Christophe Tressens ready for the Saudi adventure
The Bigourdan Christophe Tressens will take the start of the Dakar in Saudi Arabia on January 1st. Entered in the « Light Prototype » category, the former basketball player is entered with the Aveyronnais Lionel Costes, who will be at the wheel.
By his own admission, Christophe Tressens (47) has always loved rally-raid. And more particularly the Paris-Dakar. « I have always done quad bikes, a little motorbike, and for the past ten years, I have been riding buggy for leisure », indicates the company manager (Tressens diffusion, agent for Groupe Dépêche in the Hautes-Pyrénées, Editor’s note). But his favorite sport, the one for which he is best known in the department, is basketball.
Christophe Tressens was, in the 90s, of the Heavyweight adventure in Pro B. The former leader also wore the colors of Rodez, where he met Lionel Costes, his friend, and pilot of the crew n ° 319 which will depart from Jeddah on January 1st in Saudi Arabia. « The desire to do this legendary race has always existed, but there is always this inaccessible side that brings you back to reality. »
From dream to reality
And yet, no more dreaming, make way for the concrete this year. While he used to, when the famous rally-raid arrived in Senegal, to wait for friends at Lac Rose with champagne in the fridge, 2022 will be placed under the sign of competition. Taking the start of such an event is the culmination of a big year of work with his Aveyron sidekick, already experienced in the exercise since he took part in the 2019 edition in the motorcycle category. It was first necessary to find the vehicle, bought second-hand when such a toy (200 HP, 900 kg), new, sells for around 230,000 € HT, then find partners to set up a coherent budget. About fifty sponsors follow the duo, which will represent the association « Dans Les Pas de Léa » (which helps two disabled little girls, pictured on the roof of the car) in the Saudi desert and which will benefit from the services of the PH Sport preparer for assistance.
The two friends have been able, in recent months, to run in competition on the occasion of the Andalusia rally in May or the Morocco rally in October, to test themselves on the dunes. Christophe, moreover, followed a training in navigation since he will officiate as co-pilot. « It’s extraordinary, honestly, I don’t even know if I would take more pleasure in piloting », admits the Pyrenean, returning from a mini-training course in mid-November in Dubai.
With a little less than a month from the start, Christophe Tressens does not hide his impatience, as he will join the Saudi capital on December 27. “The objective, of course, will be to finish the race,” he concludes, confident that with his sidekick, they also aim to be on the 2023 edition.
Postponed participation
